Depression Learning

Is there a Right Time to Step In When a Family Member Refuses to Get Depression Help?

Many people live in a state of depression, and it seems like they don’t want to get better. It may be obvious to you and others that a person is severely depressed, yet the person denies anything is wrong. There are small percentage of people who have been diagnosed with major depression disorder, and they refuse to comply with any form of depression treatment. For instance, you may have a loved one who believes his/her depression symptoms are just part of a phase. Your family member may say “that’s just the way they are.” It might appear to you that your family member doesn’t want to get depression help; that may or may, but when you deal with him/her you may need to make your approach in a light, non-confrontational way.

Clinically depressed people who don’t seem to want to get well might deny they are depressed. If confronted with feedback about their symptoms of depression, they may justify those symptoms as just part of their personality. A depressed person who denies anything is wrong may make excuses for not getting help. Excuses for not getting help for depression might be, “Anti-depressants don’t work,” or “Doctors don’t know everything.” Obviously, most excuses are not logical reasons for not getting help for their depression.

If a loved one has been diagnosed with depression, and he/she refuses to get depression help, the best thing you can do is step back. If a depressed person is not thinking clearly, you won’t be able to reason with him /her anyway. If you were to confront your family member with your observations, you may just drive a wedge between the two of you. You also may cause this person to sink deeper into depression. The best thing you can do is just to take a step back and observe your family member from a safe emotional distance. There is, however, a time when you should step in to get help for your depressed family member.

If your family is so severely depressed that he/she is engaging in cutting, or other forms of self-abuse, you or someone should step in and get help. If your loved one is talking about suicide, or has made a suicide attempt, you definitely need to get help immediately. If your loved one is so depressed and apathetic that he/she refuses or cannot take care of his/her personal needs, you may need to intervene. You may not be able to reason with your family member; her/she may refuse adamantly to get help for their depression.

Self-injury and suicide attempts are more common in people suffering from bipolar disorder. In emergent situations, when a person is a definite danger to him/herself, you need to dial 911. When you dial 911 and tell the dispatcher what is going on, the 911 dispatcher will notify the appropriate emergency and law enforcement officers to intervene. The law enforcement officer may and Emergency personnel may make a judgment call to transport the person in crisis to the nearest emergency mental health facility for evaluation and observation.

Related Depression Posts

• Top 5 Depression Symptoms
• Is there a Connection between Depression and Self-harm?
• Family can be the Best Support for Depressed Individuals
• Common Depression Symptoms
• Top 15 Questions about Depression
• Depression Disorder
• Depression Test